The pandemic-induced shift to remote work is considered the largest change in American working and living conditions since World War II, according to labor experts1—but this significant impact on work location was not localized to the United States. Studies reveal that two years post-onset, only a few (5%) of worldwide organizations have declined to adopt permanent policies for remote work,2 leaving little doubt that hybrid is a new normal for most companies. Now, as demands for anywhere work increases—so does associated technical and user challenges. As a result, CIOs are focused on transforming workplace architectures into support frameworks for high-performing employee experiences3 no matter where they occur.
To garner insights on the role of technology throughout these transitions, we partnered with Forbes Insights to poll 600 global CIOs. Here is a summary of our findings.
Multi-Cloud Adoption Accelerates Change
To remain competitive, superior talent acquisition, retention, collaboration, and productivity require companies to deliver high-performing, secure anywhere work experiences. Thus, CIOs are aware of their responsibility in accelerating tech-based changes that empower a hybrid workforce. As such, three-quarters of those surveyed acknowledge remote work capabilities as a top priority and believe multi-cloud plays a pivotal role in the success of hybrid work. For leaders currently challenged to provide best-in-class remote work experiences, more than half (59%) cite insufficient multi-cloud capabilities.
Reassessing Workplace Architectures
Uniquely positioned to ensure an organization’s ability to deliver productivity and retention across hybrid work while safeguarding access and data, CIOs are reassessing workplace architectures to better leverage the cloud. Unlike traditional in-office corporate networks, where data security and performance can be controlled onsite, multi-cloud ensures checkpoints and controls are positioned closest to end users—no matter where they are—while also giving access to IT admins from anywhere. This level of understanding for both technology and tech-supported business models underlies the evolution of CIO roles as they pertain to corporate decision-making.
Beyond Hybrid: Modern CIOs are Innovation Drivers
Hybrid work is not the only complex end-game CIOs are responsible for these days. As technology transitions from primary service offering supporting lines of business—to the formidable revenue driver it is today—leaders understand that no digital transition, business model, or growth can happen without a productive, happy workforce. In pursuit of happiness, these executives shared where they see opportunities to support ongoing innovation.
Discover insights on why worldwide CIOs are delivering hybrid work opportunities built on multi-cloud architectures to support their business-critical goals. Download: The CIO of 2025: Hybrid Workplaces Are No Longer Optional
1.NBCNews. Full return to office is ‘dead,’ experts say — and remote work is only growing. Jan. 11, 2022
2.KPMG International. “Work from Anywhere: Insights from the research and government perspective.” 2021.
3.VMware. “The CIO of 2025: Hybrid Workplaces Are No Longer Optional.” 2022.
